Panty brief with wide leg openings

ABSTRACT

A panty brief is made by flat knitting a front piece (1) and a back piece (1&#39;), leg openings (8,9) being formed at a marginal edge zone (6) at the bottom of the panty brief. The marginal bottom edge zones (6) are partially made of soluble yarn (8) for forming larger stitches (19,20) and thereby a looser structure in the panty brief after dissolution of the yarn.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to panty briefs formed by a flat knitted,substantially rectangular front piece and back piece, which are madeseparately, and which by interknitting are connected along marginal edgezones in the sides of the panty briefs for forming side seams, and alonga part of the bottom of the panty briefs for forming a crotch regionseparating two non-connected parts of the marginal edge zones at thebottom of the panty briefs for forming leg openings, the panty briefsbeing made with elastic threads, which generally extend from one side tothe other of the front and back pieces for providing a circumferentiallyelastic contraction in the panty briefs.

THE PRIOR ART

It is known to make panty briefs by knitting with different forms inorder to obtain the best possible fit without a need forafter-fashioning of the panty briefs. Even though several proposals havebeen made, the panty briefs for fixation of a napkin will normallyrequire a circumferential elasticity so that an elasticity occurs at theleg-bands formed at the marginal edge zone at the bottom of the pantybriefs; however, the elasticity at the leg-bands may be irritating forthe user due to a local compressive press.

WO 91/19845 describes panty briefs with front and back pieces connectedalong other parts of marginal edge zones. Leg openings are providedopposite each other at a lower non-connected part of the marginal edgezones. In order to obtain a crotch region with some elasticity, someembodiments may have a zone having a looser knitting. However, theknitting is always provided as closed stitches and this is a drawbackbecause it is necessary to control the knitting process very accuratelyand because the knitting must be different depending on which part ofthe panty briefs is being knitted.

Panty briefs according to the present invention may be considered as afurther development of panty briefs which are described in the U.S. Pat.No. 3,656,324, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.Thus materials, knitting types, stitch size, embodiments, etc., whichare described in this United States Patent may also be used when makingthe panty briefs according to the present invention.

It is the object of the present invention to remedy the drawbacks of theknown panty briefs, especially for fixation of napkins, by providingpanty briefs of the above-mentioned type, which may be made by machinesand in endless lengths without a need for after-fashioning and which areprovided with leg openings, which do not cause a local compressive presson a user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention this is obtained by panty briefs,characterized in that, in the finished panty briefs, only part of thestitches being formed in the front and back pieces of the panty briefsin a marginal edge zone at the bottom of the panty briefs when knittingthe panty briefs are closed.

Finished panty briefs in which only part of the stitches in the marginaledge zone are closed will appear with a loose structure. Thus, theremaining part of the stitches, which during or after the making of thepanty briefs are opened, will give rise to a surplus of yarn between theremaining stitches. In practice, this means that the stitches formed inthe finished panty briefs will be substantially larger, thus resultingin the looser structure. Stated in a popular way, if only half of thestitches in the finished panty briefs are closed, it is possible to makethe stitches twice the size of those of traditional flat knitted pantybriefs in which all of the stitches are closed.

As the marginal edge zone, which is located in the vicinity of the legopenings at the bottom of the panty briefs has a looser structure, thefinished panty briefs acquire a very great width in the leg openings,which will not give rise to the local compressive press whichtraditional leg-bands may cause.

According to the invention panty briefs will not solely be suitable asnormal panty briefs, but will also be especially suitable as pantybriefs for fixation of a napkin. Thus, the looser structure obtained inthe marginal edge zone at the bottom of the panty briefs will not solelygive the leg openings a greater width, but will also form a looserstructure in the crotch region between the leg openings. Thus, the pantybriefs will be suitable for containing and fixing a napkin in the crotchregion as a marketed banana-shape, and a great width appears in theregion between the leg openings.

Panty briefs according to a preferred embodiment, and after the threadsare dissolved either by washing or by other treatments, will have anopening of the stitches so that only the remaining part of the stitchesare closed in finished panty briefs. Thereby, very loose stitches willappear in the marginal edge zone delimiting the leg openings. In casethe soluble yarn is a water-soluble yarn, it will advantageously bepossible to make the panty briefs ready for use after they have beensubjected to a per se well-known fixation process after they have left aknitting machine.

Panty briefs according to another preferred embodiment will be providedwith the loose structure and be ready for use immediately after havingleft a knitting machine. Thus, these panty briefs will not require anytreatment, except for the well-known fixation process. This embodimentfor panty briefs may advantageously be made by using knitting machineswhich are able to work with compound needles, which make it possiblethat the stitches are optionally closed or opened. This is simplyeffected by a separate controlling of the guide bar for the needleswhich are used for making the marginal edge zone. Furthermore, thisembodiment of the panty briefs is advantageous as it may be made atlower costs, seeing that neither use of soluble yarn nor anafter-treatment for dissolution of such yarn is required.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further explained with reference to theaccompanying drawing, wherein

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of panty briefs according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a partial representation of a knitting pattern for thepanty briefs shown in FIG. 1,

FIGS. 3-5 show enlarged views illustrating the forming of stitches inpanty briefs according to the present invention,

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment and a third embodiment of panty briefsaccording to the invention at the right and left side respectively, and

FIG. 7 illustrates a principle for a needle arrangement of a knittingmachine for use in making panty briefs according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a substantially rectangular front piece 1 of panty briefsaccording to the invention. The rectangular front piece 1 is placedsuperposed on a substantially corresponding back piece 1'. The backpiece 1' may have a size identical to that of the front piece 1 or maybe slightly larger as shown in FIG. 1, in order to make the panty briefsmore anatomically correct. Along the marginal edge zones 2,3 in thesides of the panty briefs the front piece 1 and the back piece 1' areinterknitted for forming side seams 4,5. Furthermore, the front piece 1and the back piece 1' are interknitted along a part of the marginal edgezones 6 at the bottom of the panty briefs for forming a crotch region 7comprising a seam 7'. The crotch region 7 separates two non-connectedparts of the marginal edge zones 6 at the bottom of the panty briefs forforming leg openings 8,9.

The front piece 1 and the back piece 1' are made in endless lengths on aconventional knitting machine, e.g. a Raschel knitting machine, in whicha first needle bed is used for making the front piece 1, and a secondneedle bed is used for making the back piece 1'. The endless lengths aresevered transversely for forming separate panty briefs. The severingtakes place in severing zones (not shown).

The front piece 1 and the back piece 1' are not connected at themarginal edge zones 10, and a waist opening 11 appears between these.The waist opening 11 is surrounded by a waistband 12 which, in a per sewell-known way, is formed by means of elastic threads 15, which areinterknitted in the marginal edge zone 10.

The panty briefs are made with elastic threads, which generally extendbetween the marginal edge zones 2,3 on the front piece 1 and the backpiece 1'. Consequently, an elastic circumferential contraction isprovided in the panty briefs. This ensures that the panty briefs aresecured firmly on the user. These threads completely or partially formthe basic web in the front piece and the back piece. In the panty briefsshown a stocking stitched region 13 is located under the waistband 12,followed by a more net-like region 14. Next to the net-like region 14the marginal edge zone 6 is provided at the bottom of the panty briefs.

It is at the knitting in the marginal edge zone 6 the panty briefsaccording to the present invention differ from the known panty briefs.In the panty briefs shown in FIG. 1, it clearly appears that themarginal edge zone 6 has a greater width than the regions 12-14. This isdue to the fact that during manufacturing this part of the panty briefsis partially made from soluble yarn (a further explanation follows).

Consequently, a looser structure is obtained in the finished pantybriefs after the dissolution of the yarn. Consequently, it will bepossible to make the leg openings 8,9 with such a width and looseness,that localized compressive press does not occur on the thigh of theuser, even if the panty briefs are provided with such a circumferentialelasticity that it is secured firmly and tightly around the torso of theuser.

FIG. 2 shows a knitting pattern for the panty briefs shown in FIG. 1. Itis noted that the extension of the individual regions 6,12,13 and 14 mayvary, and that the knitting pattern only illustrates the knitting ineach of the regions of the front piece 1 and the back piece 1'. In thewaistband region elastic threads 15 are interknitted in a great numberin order to form the very elastic waistband. In the stocking stitchedregion 13 a smooth and tight knitting is obtained, and preferably woundelastan yarn 16 is used. Alternatively, non-wound yarn may be used, andthe yarn may be made of nylon or polyester. The region 14 is knittedwith an open net-like structure. In the region 14 every second needle isused in order to obtain the open knitting, and the yarn used maycomprise cotton yarn 17. It is noted that it is also possible to use thewound elastan or other yarn in this region.

In the region 6 the same knitting is used in principle as in the region14. However, in the region 6 needles are used for interknitting asoluble yarn 8, which e.g. may be a solvron yarn. As the stitches in theregion 6 are knitted with stitches extending over several juxtaposedneedles, it is possible to interknit the soluble yarn 18 on anintermediate row of needles. In the embodiment shown yarn 18 isinterknitted in the region 6, which yarn may be nylon yarn for formingthe net-knit.

In the embodiment shown stitches are formed on three juxtaposed needles.This clearly appears from FIGS. 3-5. In FIG. 3 it is seen that the yarn18 forms stitches 19,20,21 on three juxtaposed needles. On theinterposed needle the soluble yarn 8 is used. The outermost stitches 19and 20 are closed stitches, while the interposed stitches 21 are closedby means of the soluble yarn 8.

Thus, after the yarn 8 is dissolved (see FIG. 4), it will be possible toopen the stitches 21. In this state the stitches 19,20, as seen in FIG.5, appear larger and with a looser structure. Consequently, it will bepossible to obtain a treater extension in the knitting direction 22.This is used for obtaining the desired, looser marginal edge zone 6 inthe immediate vicinity of the leg openings 8,9 (see FIG. 1).

It is noted that it is possible to make the panty briefs in otherembodiments than the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Thus, it will bepossible to make the panty briefs according to one of the twoalternative embodiments, which are shown at the left and right side inFIG. 6.

At the left side panty briefs are shown having elastic threads 23extending obliquely from the crotch region 7 of the panty briefs upwardstowards the side edge 3 of the panty briefs in order to obtain a bettercompressive effect along the side edges 26 of a napkin 27, when thepanty briefs according to the invention are to be used as panty briefsfor fixation of a napkin.

The right side of FIG. 6 shows an alternative way of placing elasticthreads 24 generally extending from the crotch region 7 obliquelyoutwards towards the side edge 2 of the panty briefs. In this region 25,in which the threads extend with a substantially oblique orientation,the threads are interknitted in a meander-like pattern. Because of thisspecial interknitting of the elastic threads 24, not only a compressiveeffect is obtained along the side edges 26 of the napkin 27, but also atransverse elasticity in the panty briefs is obtained so that this issecured firmly around the torso of the user.

However, the panty briefs will also be useful as panty briefs forfixation of a napkin without interknitting of such elastic threads 23,24extending obliquely.

It will also be possible to interknit the soluble yarn with greater orlesser intensity. Instead of interknitting every second needle, two outof three needles or three out of four needles may be threaded withsoluble yarn so that only every third or fourth needle is threaded withunsoluble yarn for obtaining a looser structure in the marginal edgezone 6 of the finished panty briefs. Thus, it will also be possible tointerknit the yarn in every third or every fourth needle in order toobtain a less open structure. It will also be possible to let thesoluble yarn be a part of the forming of several provisionally closedstitches for forming a structure having a greater openness after thedissolution of the yarn.

In FIG. 7 the elements are shown schematically which are part of aknitting machine which may be used for making panty briefs according tothe invention. The knitting machine is a Raschel-machine with two needlebeds 28,29. In the needle beds 28,29 compound needles 30 are provided.In the embodiment shown the machine is provided with four basic guidebars 31 and a number of pattern guide bars 32. It is noted that the fiveguide bars 32 are shown as a practical example as twelve are needed forthe specific product.

As a person skilled in the art will know how such a knitting machineworks, it is only to be mentioned that each of the compound needles 30is made from two separate elements, i.e. a needle element 33 and aclosing element 34, which may be shifted in a forward and backwardmotion in a track, which is left open in the stem 35 of the needleelement 33. Thus, the closing and opening of the stitches are decided bythe way in which the closing element 34 is controlled in relation to theneedle element 33 in each of the compound needles 30, which are placedin the needle beds 28,29. Seeing that knitting machines are onlythreaded on a part of the needles, preferably every second needle, itwill be possible on the interposed empty needles to form a stitch, whichis opened (as shown in FIG. 2). Thus, during the knitting it will bepossible to obtain the same effect illustrated in FIGS. 3,4 and 5,without the necessity of using a soluble yarn. In practice, it is alsopossible to thread every third or every fourth needle, in order toobtain an even looser structure.

Thus, it is possible to make the front pieces and the back pieces, inwhich the marginal edge zones in the bottom of the panty briefs are madewith a very loose structure, only by threading a part of the needles,which are used for making the stitches in the marginal edge zone.

I claim:
 1. A method of forming panty briefs having a loose bottomstructure comprising the steps of:providing flat knitted, substantiallyrectangular front and rear pieces which each provides opposite marginalside edge zones, a marginal top edge zone and a marginal bottom edgezone, each front and rear piece including flat knitted pieces formed ofstitches including elastic yarns that extend generally between saidopposite marginal side edge zones thereof, and some yarns beingremovable, connecting side edges of said front and rear pieces andconnecting bottom edges thereof to form a crotch region betweennon-connected regions forming leg openings, and removing said removableyarns.
 2. A method of forming panty briefs according to claim 1, whereinpart of a yarn used for forming stitches in said marginal bottom edgezones of said front and back pieces is soluble yarn.
 3. Panty briefsaccording to claim 2, wherein the soluble yarn is water-soluble yarn. 4.Panty briefs according to claim 2, wherein the soluble yarn issteam-soluble yarn.
 5. Panty briefs according to claim 1, wherein theremovable yarn constitutes less than 10% by weight of the yarn in themarginal edge zone of the panty briefs.
 6. Panty briefs according toclaim 5, wherein the removable yarn constitutes between 0.5 and 2% byweight of the yarn.
 7. Panty briefs according to claim 1, wherein theamount of the removable yarn per area unit gradually increases towards abottom portion of the panty briefs forming a looser structure nearestthe bottom of the panty briefs.
 8. Panty briefs according to claim 1,wherein a width of the marginal edge zone having a loose structure is ofbetween 10 and 25 mm in an unstretched state.
 9. Panty briefs accordingto claim 8, wherein the width of the marginal edge zone is between 15and 25 mm in an unstretched state.
 10. Panty briefs according to claim1, wherein the elastic threads in the bottom of the panty briefs aremade up of wound yarn forming stitches together with the removable yarn.11. A method of forming panty briefs having a loose bottom structurecomprising the steps of:providing flat knitted, substantiallyrectangular front and rear pieces which each provides opposite marginalside edge zones, a marginal top edge zone and a marginal bottom edgezone, each front and rear piece including flat knitted pieces formed ofstitches including elastic yarns that extend generally between saidopposite marginal side edge zones thereof, only some of the stitches inthe marginal bottom edge zones being closed, and connecting side edgesof said front and rear pieces and connecting bottom edges thereof toform a crotch region between non-connected regions forming leg openings.12. A method of forming panty briefs according to claim 11, comprisingthe further step of knitting using compound needles and controlling thefront and rear pieces, which needles in said marginal bottom edge zonesby a separate guide bar which threads some of the needles only so thatsome of the stitches in said marginal bottom zones are opened.
 13. Pantybrief comprising a flat knitted, substantially rectangular front piecehaving opposite marginal side edge zones, a marginal top edge zone and amarginal bottom edge zone, said front piece formed of stitches includingelastic yarns extending generally between said marginal side edge zones,only a portion of the stitches used in the marginal bottom edge zonebeing closed; a flat knitted, substantially rectangular back piecehaving opposite marginal side edge zones, a marginal top edge zone and amarginal bottom edge zone, said back piece formed of stitches includingelastic yarns extending generally between said marginal side edge zones,only a portion of the stitches used in the marginal bottom edge zonebeing closed; and means for connecting corresponding sides of said frontand back pieces and for connecting corresponding bottoms of said frontand back pieces to form a crotch region between two non-connected legopening areas; said panty briefs having a lose structure at a bottomthereof due to only a portion of said stitches in said marginal zones ofsaid front and back pieces being closed.